Daly prepares for new job as assemblyman

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Tom Daly has just about done it all in local government.

Over a political career that has stretched nearly three decades, the 58-year-old Democrat has served as an Anaheim Union High School District trustee, an Anaheim city councilman, the Anaheim mayor and, most recently, the Orange County clerk-recorder.

For his next challenge, however, Daly has chosen a new arena: Sacramento.

This month, he was sworn in as a new Assembly member, representing Anaheim and Santa Ana in the 69th Assembly District. Daly arrives just as his party has taken supermajority control of both houses of the Legislature.

Q
. You're no rookie to politics. But your experience is local, where partisanship isn't nearly as intense as it is in Sacramento. How do you plan to approach the partisan battles at the state Capitol?

A. I agree that the atmosphere in Sacramento has appeared more partisan in recent years than it did in the past, which helps explain why legislators have often struggled to adopt timely solutions for some of the state's most pressing problems. It's hard for people to engage in problem-solving when their ideological differences prevent them from engaging in civil discussions with each other. Yes, my roots are in local government, but to be effective at any level of government, you have to be able to work with people who are not going to agree with you on every issue. I consider my ability to work with Democrats, Republicans and independents alike to be one of the assets that I am bringing to Sacramento.

Q.
While Orange County's Democratic rolls are growing substantially, our region is still considered a Republican stronghold. Are you excited to be going to an arena where your party is firmly in control?

A. I believe that most people in Orange County care more about issues than ideology, which is one reason why I have been so successful politically.

Q.
What impact do you think the Democrats' historic supermajorities in both the Assembly and the Senate will have on public policy this year?

A. A number of things likely contributed to our party gaining additional seats in both the Assembly and Senate, but I believe that, first and foremost, voters were signaling that they want us – the Legislature and governor – to put the state's fiscal crisis behind us once and for all. Toward that end, they gave us a substantive new tool by approving Proposition 30, which should not only help stabilize the state budget, but also put us on track toward restoring our commitment to K-12 schools and higher education. Stabilizing both the state budget and support for education will in turn bolster confidence in the business community that we have turned the corner and are heading back toward prosperity. I fully expect those to be the top policy priorities of the Legislature this year, along with job creation.

Q.
You're known as something of a moderate Democrat, and moderate Democrats often find themselves at odds with party leadership in Sacramento. How do you plan to deal with such conflict?

A. Of the 80 members of the Assembly, 38 of us – nearly half – are in our first year in office. And of the 38 newcomers, 28 of us are Democrats. We come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some, like me, recently served in local government. Others recently left the private sector. This is in many ways an exciting time to be serving in the Legislature, but we'll have our hands full working on solutions for a number of outstanding problems. I don't expect labels, or party affiliations, to deter us from finding those solutions.

Q.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in Sacramento in your first year?

A. Aside from the major issues that I mentioned previously, I would like to see us address inefficiencies and duplications in government regulations, so that they work better, and more efficiently, for consumers and businesses alike.

Q. Can you tell us about any bills you're planning to introduce in your first legislative session?

A. I plan to focus on job creation, infrastructure investment, and local government funding.

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